Film Festival to Celebrate Mexican Independence Day

A Mexican film festival starting this week in Oxnard kicks off a fall season of similar festivals in the west county, a testament to the increasing popularity of film festivals in the county.

The Channel Islands Indie Film Festival, which will still hold its main event in November, will celebrate the Sept. 16 Mexican Independence Day by showcasing current and classic Mexican cinema, with directors and special guests attending to answer questions.

Fiestas Patrias is the first of four festivals in Oxnard, Ojai and Port Hueneme this autumn.

“Film festivals are important because you see films you don’t get to see anywhere else,” said Luis Guereca, the film festival director. “Lots of the independent filmmakers don’t have a big distribution, so they use the film festival circuit to show their work.”

This week’s festival may inspire local minority artists to create their own films while bringing more Spanish-language culture to local residents, Guereca said.

The idea for the festival came from KUNX-AM, Radio Unica, a Spanish-language radio station in the county. “I wanted to do something that would encourage the next generation to have a career, do something bigger with their lives while continuing our traditions,” said Olivia Obregon, the station’s sales manager. The station teamed up with representatives from the Indie Film Festival, and Fiestas Patrias was born.

This year, the Channel Islands Indie Film Festival, in its third year, is showing Mexican films several weeks before its larger November event. Two other film festivals, Ojai’s Horizon’s Lost and Found, and Vision by the Sea in Port Hueneme, will inaugurate their own local festivals.

Steve Grumette, artistic director of the Ojai film festival, said the explosion of such events is a result of cheap and easy movie-making technology, increasingly interested audiences and community leaders with an eye for culture.

“There has been a proliferation of them around the world, not just in this county,” he said. “Local people think of it as something that benefits the whole community.” Merchants are pleased with the crowds drawn to their area, and movie aficionados enjoy a visit to a beautiful town.

The international film festival in Port Hueneme runs Oct. 5-8. Its films have not been selected, said Angela Kamm, director of marketing for Beachfront Studio, a branch of Pacific Coast Entertainment. That festival will be held at the former Dorill B. Wright Cultural Arts Center, which was recently purchased from the city of Port Hueneme.

The schedule for the Indie Film Festival celebrating Mexican Independence Day is as follows:

Today--Ramon Villalba discusses the films of Cantinflas, followed by the screening of one of Cantinflas’ rarely shown films, “El Jenderme Desconocido” (no English subtitles).

Thursday--Award-winning documentary filmmaker Phillip Rodriguez and cinematographer Claudio Rocha will present their latest work, “Pancho Villa Y Otras Historias.” This film is a portrayal of popular attitudes toward Pancho Villa, one of the most revered and controversial personalities in Mexican history. The film was a winner at the San Antonio Cinefestival 2000 (English subtitles).

Friday--”La Ciudad/The City,” is the feature film debut from writer-director David Riker. It is a collection of stories about love, hope and loss for disenfranchised Latino immigrants living in New York. Filmed in black and white, it was an Independent Spirit Award nominee (English subtitles).

Saturday--Actor-director Jorge Cervera Jr. will present his family film “Julio y Su Angel.” The simple story filmed in folkloric Mexico features the traditions of Mexican faith and culture (English subtitles).

Sunday--”La Otra Conquista/The Other Conquest.” This movie is set in the aftermath of the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1521. The lead actor, Damian Delgado, will be available after the film for discussion.

Door prizes will be raffled off at each screening. All programs begin at 7 p.m. at the newly opened Channel Island Cinemas, formerly the Carriage Square Theater, at Oxnard Boulevard and Gonzalez Road in Oxnard. Tickets for the festival are available at the door or by calling 487-9075. Ticket prices are $5 for general admission and $2.50 for seniors and children 7 and under.